Congratulations to Melwin Antony, who has been awarded the Archdiocesan Medal for outstanding service to the church.

Archbishop Leo presented the medal to him during Mass at St Michael's Parish in Linlithgow recently.

Melwin receives the medal from Archbishop Cushley as Canon Kelly looks on.

Melwin was nominated by parish priest Canon Paul Kelly for his example of "faithful service and generosity" in helping livestream Masses, funerals and school services during lockdown, using his background in computers and photography.

Canon Kelly said: "From the moment of lockdown last year, he provided every Sunday a live stream of our 9:15am Mass, with recorded readings, hymns, and sung parts of the Mass."

Expertise

He continued: "He has also been of help in livestreaming school Masses and funerals and put his professional expertise at the service of the church.

"This has been greatly appreciated by members of the parish, who see his work has keeping the parish together especially during lockdown.

"His work is appreciated by those elderly and vulnerable members of the parish who are still nervous about attending Sunday Mass, though many of them come on weekdays."

Melvin is married to Dini and they have four young children. The whole family are originally from Kerala in India and his parents also live in the parish.

The Archdiocesan Medal for Outstanding Service to the Church was established in 1975 by Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray, Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh.